Modesto offense finds itself in big win over Sonora

Modesto High featured one of the most prolific attacks in the Stanislaus District a year ago, but the only skill player to come back was tight end Julian Gallo.

It explains why the Panthers were sluggish their first two games, averaging just 228 yards and 10 points.

Those losses put the Panthers in a must-win position against Sonora Friday, and maybe that's all that was needed. Their offense looked like last season's fun-filled scheme in their 34-33 victory over the Wildcats, with a Miller at quarterback — Iann, who was last year's understudy to Klayton — and a big-play star in Cesar Ruiz.

Ruiz had turned 11 touches into 187 yards and two TDs in the first two games, then opened this game with an 88-yard kickoff return for a TD. Iann Miller had careers high for completions (15), attempts (28), yards (259) and TD throws (two), picking apart a defense that would drop seven or eight into coverage.

Sonora returned an interception 90 yards in the fourth quarter for a brief 33-28 lead, but Miller didn't back down and kept firing away.

He hit Nelson Morataya from 12 yards in the final minutes to put Modesto on top, capping a career night for Morataya (eight catches, 158 yards, two TDs) and giving the Panthers momentum for next week's rivalry game with Turlock.